Did you recently find out that you are expecting? Are you starting to get excited about the arrival of your new little bundle of joy? Pregnancy is an exciting time, but it can also be overwhelming. While you likely can’t wait to hold your new baby in your arms, you are also likely starting to stress about everything you need to do to get ready for their arrival. You may be thinking about when to start buying baby things. If so, we’ve got you covered!
This guide is designed to provide you with information about when to start buying baby gear and all the other essentials your little one will need. We’ll share some tips to help make sure you’re prepared for your new baby to make their grand debut.
After you got your positive pregnancy test, your mind may have quickly travelled to the reality that you’ll be facing in less than nine months. Babies bring so much joy into our lives, but caring for them is a full-time job. And, while babies may be small, getting everything purchased and prepared before they are born is no small task.
So, it is perfectly normal if you are wondering “when to start buying baby clothes” or “when should I start buying baby items?”
When to Start Buying Baby Things
While there is not necessarily any ‘right’ time to start shopping, most people recommend waiting to start buying baby stuff until the end of the first trimester, or when you are at least 13 weeks pregnant.
This is because the risk of miscarriage decreases significantly once you are through the first trimester.
Also, many women begin sharing their pregnancy news with friends and family during their second trimester, so you wouldn’t have to worry about hiding your purchases or making up lame excuses about why there is a bag of baby clothes in the back seat of your car.
Starting shopping around 13 weeks is the best time to buy baby stuff because it will also help you spread out the cost of everything you’ll need to buy more than if you purchased everything all at once shortly before giving birth.
When is the Best Time to Start Buying Baby Clothes?
Clothes are often one of the first items soon-to-be-parents pick up for the baby. Once you know you have a baby on the way, your first instinct may be to go out and pick up a cute outfit to make the pregnancy more real and exciting. And, let’s be real, babies need lots of clothes and wear all different kinds of baby outfits. While there is nothing wrong with buying baby stuff at 7 weeks or so, you will just want to limit yourself.
Clothes are one item that you are likely to get a lot of at a baby shower, since everyone loves buying adorable outfits for little ones. So, if you are looking for what to buy before baby shower, you may want to choose something else. Another reason to hold back before buying baby clothes in advance is that you likely won’t know your baby’s gender until you are closer to 20 weeks pregnant. This is typically when the anatomy ultrasound is performed. If you plan to find out whether you are having a boy or girl, you may not know until you are about half-way through your pregnancy.
When to start buying diapers when pregnant is another common question many parents have. Again, while there is no right answer to this, you should probably wait until you are at least in your second trimester. While babies go through tons of diapers, you won’t be able to know how long your baby will be in each size for, so be careful stocking up too much.
If your baby grows quickly, you may find that you are sizing up in diapers more often than you would have guessed, or if your baby is more petite, you may find that you need multiple boxes of newborn or size 1 diapers. If you’ll be purchasing diapers before you have your baby, stick with a few boxes of each size, and you can always buy more if you need them after your baby is born.
When to Start Buying Baby Furniture?
Outfitting your baby’s nursery is no small task. There are a lot of baby room essentials and furniture pieces you’ll need to purchase, including a crib, dresser, changing table, and glider/rocking chair. Depending on where you purchase your furniture from, it may take a while for everything to be crafted and assembled.
For this reason, you should probably start thinking about buying baby furniture earlier than some of the other items on your list. This way, you won’t have to worry about your baby being delivered before the furniture gets delivered.
If you will be finding out the gender of your baby, you may want to wait until you have found out if you are having a boy or a girl. This way, you can plan out your nursery theme and pick coordinating furniture pieces.
In addition to all the furniture for their nursery, babies also need lots of other big-ticket items. The best time to buy baby gear, such as car seats, strollers, and stylish baby high chairs, is during the second trimester or the beginning of the third trimester. This will leave you with enough time to get everything set up and the car seat safely installed without feeling stressed about your baby coming before you are prepared.
Is It Bad Luck to Buy Baby Stuff Early?
Buying baby stuff early is not bad luck, but many women feel uncomfortable doing so and think it will jinx their pregnancy. This is especially understandable if you have had previous miscarriages or struggled to get pregnant.
So, while buying baby stuff early isn’t bad luck, the best time to shop for baby stuff is when you feel comfortable doing so. The answer to the questions, “Is 8 weeks too early to buy baby stuff?” or “Can I start buying baby stuff at 20 weeks?” may be completely different for many mums.
What Do I Need to Buy for My Baby When I’m Pregnant?
When you bring your baby home from the hospital, you will want to have pretty much everything you’ll need ready and organized. This will help prevent panicked, last-minute trips to the store. You’ll be able to focus on enjoying your new baby during your first few days at home instead of trying to figure out what you still need to purchase.
Here is a list of things to buy when pregnant if you don’t get them from your baby shower.
Clothing/Blankets
- Coming home outfit
- Onesies (short- and long-sleeved)
- Pyjamas
- Outfits
- Pants
- Mittens
- Booties
- Hats
- Swaddling blankets
- Receiving blankets
- Jackets, dresses, sun hats, snowsuits, and other seasonal items
Baby Gear
- Car seat
- Stroller
- Baby carrier
- Bouncer
- Playard
- Jumper or entertainment centre
- Diaper bag
- Travel changing mat
Nursing and Feeding
- Bottles and nipples
- Formula/formula dispenser (if you’ll be using formula)
- Bottle brush
- Drying rack
- Bottle sterilizer
- Bottle warmer
- High chair
- Baby spoons/bowls
- Pacifiers
- Teethers
- Burp cloths
- Bibs
- Breast pump and accessories
- Storage bags for pumped milk
Hygiene
- Diapers
- Diaper pail or trash can
- Wipes
- Body wash/shampoo
- Baby bathtub
- Bath toys
- Wash cloths
- Hooded towels
Nursery
- Crib
- Crib mattress
- Bedding set/sheets
- Mattress pads (waterproof)
- Bassinet/cradle
- Changing table
- Changing pad
- Rocking chair or glider
- Sound machine
- Hamper
- Decorations
First Aid and Safety
- Baby First Aid Kit
- Nasal Aspirator
- Baby Grooming Kit
- Medications
- Baby gates
- Outlet Covers
- Safety Locks (and other baby proofing things)
- Baby Monitor
- Furniture mounting straps
Toys
- Tummy time mat
- Links
- Rattles
- Board books
- Cloth books
- Stuffed animals
Miscellaneous
- Parenting books
- Post-partum care supplies
- Picture frames
- Memory book
- Maternity clothes
Where to Buy Baby Items
Fortunately, there are plenty of options when it comes to buying for baby. There are numerous UK stores and online shops that can help you find everything you’ll need to get ready for the arrival of your little one.
Below are a few that you can check out to get started on your shopping adventure.
Knowing when to start buying baby items during pregnancy isn’t always easy. Hopefully our article has given you some insight about when to start buying baby items. Your to-do list during pregnancy can be quite intimidating. Hopefully you are feeling less stress about purchasing everything you’ll need for your little one.
When to Start Buying Baby Things: Final Thoughts
Now that you’ve read through our suggestions, begin to make your plan. Which items do you need to start shopping for sooner? Which items on your list can wait? Once you have your plan in-place, visit the website for a few of the online stores we shared above and start shopping. Your new baby will be here before you know it; make sure you are ready to welcome them into the world and prepared with everything you’ll need to care for them.
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